Robert F. Kennedy Jr intends to reduce chronic diseases among youth by assessing the overuse of SSRIs after being appointed to lead the Make America Healthy Again Commission by President Trump.
SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. They can ease moderate to severe symptoms of depression and some anxiety disorders in children, teens, and adults.
“I think it’s possible to abuse any drugs, but if medication is prescribed and used as authorized by a doctor, it’s not fair to compare it to drugs that have no benefits and that are only used for abuse,” Darah Derios, a third-year journalism major.
The newly appointed Health Secretary has criticized the medications for having dangerous side effects and being more addictive than heroin. Kennedy had previously been addicted to heroin.
Doctors say that while most SSRIs aren’t addictive and are generally safe, in some cases, people under 25 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking the medication. Anyone taking an antidepressant should be watched closely by a healthcare professional.
“Your mental health professionals should be regularly monitoring your behavioral patterns once switching to new meds so they can make the required adjustments that fit you,” said Malia Horton, a third-year psychology major.
In the past, Kennedy has made false claims, linking SSRIs to school shootings.
“I think there can be a risk to children taking SSRIs if they are not put on the proper medication or the right dose,” said Horton. “That said, antidepressants causing school shootings are an ignorant response to avoid tackling the larger issue of gun violence.”
A 2019 study found that most school shooters had not taken these medications, and when they did “no direct or causal association was found,” per NBC News.
“I think it’s hard to determine what is causing the rise of school shootings and pinpointing it to one thing is disingenuous,” said Derios.
Some students say that linking these medications to drug use and school shooters creates a stigma around mental health and the medicine used to treat it.
“Mental health research is just now starting to get out of being stigmatized, so I don’t think it’s right for the medication to be made so political so early,” said Derios.
Other students believe the Health Secretary should worry about bigger issues at hand rather than target SSRIs.
“If it's violence and addiction people are worried about, start taking more initiative in your kid’s lives,” said Horton.
Comments